The Current Knowledge of Aculeates in Staffordshire

Certain areas of the County have not been well covered. Over the last ten years more work has been undertaken in the southern and central areas of the vice county; the north being rather sparsely covered.

Although there is not a large amount of information on the aculeate hymenoptera of Staffordshire, there have fortunately been a number of surveys carried out on various heathlands within the County over the last six years (Falk et al 1996, Bloxham & Slawson 1998, Archer unpublished data, Webb 2001, 2000, 1999, unpublished data). Staffordshire contains over 1700ha of heathland which, apart from woodland, is currently thought to be the most widespread semi-natural habitat in the county. Due to the sandy, open nature of heathlands, these often represent an ideal habitat for nesting bees and wasps. Heathlands also contain lots of suitable forage areas within them including the ruderal and scrubby areas often located along the edges of heathland. To date, a total of ten heathland/acid grassland sites have been the subject of survey and a number of 'strongholds' for the aculeate hymenoptera have been determined. These include Highgate Common in the south of the County; the Cannock Chase complex (including Gentleshaw Common, Shoal Hill and Milford Quarry); and a number of upland heathlands in the north of the County.

A large number of species are found on nearly all the lowland heathlands within the County. These include the striking Andrena cineraria and its host Nomada lathburiana. Both these species have a limited distribution within the UK but are quite common within Staffordshire. Other species are more restricted. As an example, Andrena lapponica is characteristically found on northern sites, as bilberry is often a strong component within them. Southerly sites tend to have more diversity although the actual species composition often varies from site to site. There has been some work undertaken on disused sand quarries in or near to heathland sites and the results have shown that these areas are often very good for aculeate diversity.

Woodlands, grasslands and other habitats have not been surveyed in as much detail as heathlands within the County. Only a couple grasslands have been covered over the last ten years and we therefore only have a limited idea of the county fauna on such sites. Woodlands and other areas with potential aerial nesting sites have also only been touched upon. It is fair to say that ground-nesting species have been covered in much greater detail than aerial nesters.

Despite this, it was the authors' decision that there was still more than enough information to compile a provisional checklist. There is also information pertaining to changes in the fauna as many species are spreading northwards. Of the better-known species, the large social wasp Dolichovespula media was noted over ten years ago reaching the County. This has spread from the continent and is now considered to be well established within the UK. In more recent years Staffordshire has now seen other species spread northwards. Perhaps one of the more striking ones is the bee-wolf (Philanthus triangulum). This was considered to be very rare over twenty years ago but it now present throughout most of England and is now known from a number of sites within the County.

Unfortunately, the data also suggests that a number of species may have declined. Although the data is limited, the current information there is on bumblebees shows that a large number of species have not been recorded within the County in recent years. Five species have not been recorded since 1951 and a number of other species present within the County have only been found sparingly and are thought to have a very localised distribution. It is likely that similar trends exist in other groups within the aculeate hymenoptera. The main cause of this decline must be strongly linked with changes in land-use over the last fifty years that have brought about much habitat destruction and fragmentation.

It is hoped that the current work and this publication will stimulate further work on all species of Aculeate Hymenoptera, in particular, in habitats and areas of the County which are currently under recorded.